What is Spanish olive oil?
Olive oil is a vegetable fat obtained from olives. It is the most commonly used fat in the Mediterranean diet and can be used both raw and cooked. It is extracted from olives and is generally used as a condiment.
Depending on the type of extraction and pressing that is going to be used, the oil obtained will have one category or another. We can identify 4 types of olive oil: superior extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil and olive oil.
- Superior extra virgin olive oil: It could be said that it is the olive juice, very little quantity is obtained. This oil is obtained from the natural pressing that is produced by piling up the ripe olives. Up to 7 litres per 100 kg can be obtained. It is used for seasoning and dressing.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is obtained from olives through the process of milling. A process that consists of crushing the whole olive and extracting the resulting liquid. It is no longer pressed as in ancient times. It is an oil with an acidity of less than 0.8 degrees. It is used for seasoning.
- Virgin olive oil: Virgin olive oil is obtained in a second milling process. It has similar characteristics to EVOO, although its acidity is between 0.8º and 2º. It is an unfiltered oil, no chemicals are used in its production.
- Olive oil: it is a mixture of refined and extra virgin oils. Chemicals are used in its production and its extraction is no longer cold.
The use of olive oil dates back to Roman times, when they extracted the oil from olives by cold pressing. This extraction process has been improved over the centuries. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, the technique currently used is called "Molturado", which consists of crushing the whole olive: "skin, fibre, stone and pulp" and obtaining the first oil from the liquid it gives off. However, there are mills that still use the traditional pressing methods to extract the olive oil. They are smaller batches, a more artisanal oil, with a signature signature of the author. A clear example of this are the extra virgin olive oils from the empeltre olives from Bajo Aragon, from Marchenica.
The climatic conditions and the great extension of Spain have made it the world's largest producer of olive oil. Most of its production is exported all over the world.
Which Spanish oil should you buy?
Depending on what you are going to use it for, you will need one oil or another. If the idea is to give a gift, the ideal gift is a gourmet extra virgin olive oil. Among them, Spanish organic Olive oil stand out. It is also important to highlight the value of the olive from which it has been produced, so you can choose between single-variety oils.
If, on the other hand, you are going to give a particular use to the oil, we will choose the oil according to the elaboration in which we are going to use it.
Buying olive oil
Talking about olive oil is somewhat generic, as it covers everything, however, we recommend you to buy olive oil for seasoning or sautéing. As you know, it is a more intense oil, higher than 2 degrees and in which 80% of refined olive oil and 20% of virgin olive oil are mixed. If you are going to use olive oil for cooking, we recommend you to use this one.
In many occasions, we will see an intense or mild olive oil in the supermarket shelf, but these oils are olive oils without any further refinement and treatment.
Buy extra virgin olive oil
We recommend you to buy extra virgin olive oil to use on a daily basis in your diet. It is the best quality olive oil. The ideal is to consume it raw, to dress or season your dishes. It is a fat with an infinite number of properties and it enhances the flavour, giving it that Mediterranean touch.
Buy Andalusian olive oil
Andalusia is synonymous with olive oil, its excellent climatic conditions, its great extension and its long experience in the production of high quality olive oil, position it as the best producer of olive oil in the world.
We recommend you to buy Andalusian olive oil, any regulated brand is excellent, there are varieties such as picual, hojiblanca, manzanilla and lechín.
Buy Spanish sunflower oil
Spanish sunflower oil is an ideal vegetable fat for use in frying. Unlike virgin olive oil, it does not have a pleasant taste to eat raw. We can find different sunflower oils depending on the type of frying to be used, either to be used in fryers or to be used on the griddle or in frying pans.
There are high quality sunflower oils, we recommend you to buy the Spanish sunflower oil Koipesol high oleic, an oil that withstands high temperatures without losing its properties.
Olive oil brands in our food shop
As you know, Spain is the world's largest producer of olive oil. Olive oil is produced in all regions of Spain.
At España Gastronómica, we bring you the main olive oil brands. Brands that have been with us for generations and that produce the best quality olive oil. Among all the brands of olive oil, we highlight: Carbonell, Coosur, Hojiblanca, Dcoop, Koipe.
We also offer traditional extra virgin olive oil, produced by local companies, such as the empeltre olive oil "La Marchenica". We also have the SaborEco range of single-variety organic olive oils.
Products you can use Spanish olive oil with
